Long-term Actions

  • Ensure each technical committee has access to funds for essential accommodations (e.g., interpreters, captioners, accessible tools)
  • Consider budgeting for administrative assistance or training on facilitation that centers inclusion

More Information

Examples

Sweden – Swedish Institute for Standards (SIS) The Swedish Disability Rights Federation addresses accessibility funding by advocating for accommodations to be part of regular budgets, supported by Sweden’s Discrimination Act. They work with government bodies to make accessibility a legal requirement and participate in disability councils to influence policy. Sweden’s government provides dedicated funding for NGOs through a special financing council, allowing organizations to apply for financial support to assist members, including those attending meetings. Trade unions also receive public funding to support member participation, ensuring inclusive representation, especially for those with accessibility needs.

Barriers these actions address

No funding for accessibility accommodations

Why is this a problem?

Many organizations don’t set aside money for accessibility. This makes it hard for people with disabilities to fully participate. When there is no dedicated funding, accessibility is often treated as optional instead of essential, which can prevent full participation.

Common problems include:

  • No budget for sign language interpreters or live captions
  • No support for accessible tools, platforms, or documents
  • No help with travel or personal assistance
  • Increased stress and fatigue for participants who have to manage accessibility themselves
  • No funds for extra staffing needed to support accessibility

Ways to address the barrier

  • Allocate a dedicated accessibility budget
  • Build in travel funding
  • Create a shared support system
  • Help with travel planning
  • Provide monetary compensation and financial support